SAN MATEO — Police have caught a suspect in the shooting death of Wei Cheng Ma outside a San Mateo karaoke club on July 8.

Wei An Lu, 22, was arrested Friday evening while walking down the Great Highway in San Francisco’s Richmond District with a couple of friends, police said at a Saturday afternoon news conference.

Lu was taken to San Francisco County Jail. He will be sent to San Mateo County early this week.

Ma, 30, of Daly City was shot twice outside the AquaSound Karaoke Club on July 8 about 2 a.m. after an argument inside the club between two groups of men using the private karaoke rooms.

When the security guard forced the men to leave, the fight turned physical outside the club and Ma was shot. It was San Mateo’s third homicide this year, police said.

Since then, police have been working around the clock to find Lu, who was the prime suspect. Lu has a criminal record. Police are looking for a motive.

“We can’t say whether in fact it was or was not gang related,” said San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer.

The police shut down AquaSound Club for 15 days while they investigate.

Formerly operated as the Day and Night Karaoke Club, police have received several calls from that address for fights and noise.

Karaoke clubs like AquaSound, which allow customers to sit on couches and sing in private rooms, have sparked much controversy in San Mateo over the last year.

In January, Manheimer persuade the City Council to place a 45-day ban on any new small-booth karaoke rooms, arguing there was prostitution, under-age drinking and drug use inside the rooms.

Three months later, the council lifted the ban and has now adopted an ordinance that will allow private rooms inside entertainment establishments as long as there is no alcohol, more lighting and windows so that people can see inside.

The new ordinance will go into effect Sept. 6 and will be extended to all existing karaoke and entertainment venues that have private rooms.

“The management will be able to then assess the activity taking place in these rooms,” said Manheimer. “We’re taking care of the excessive drinking and targeting opportunities for illicit activity.”

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